Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball: KSU drops another MAC game, this one to Toledo

KENT — The Kent State University men's basketball team suffered its second consecutive Mid-American Conference loss Tuesday night, falling 89-75 to Toledo at home.

The Golden Flashes were coming off a two-point overtime loss Saturday on the road against Eastern Michigan.

KSU (8-7, 1-2 in the MAC) could not bounce back against Toledo (9-6, 3-0) in the third conference game of the season for both teams.

Last season, Kent State defeated Toledo in each of their two meetings, including 93-78 in the MAC Tournament title game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in downtown Cleveland. Toledo had won the 2022-23 MAC regular-season championship.

Rob Senderoff's reaction to KSU's loss: 'We need to respond better': Toledo hands Kent State men's basketball a painful defeat

However, the two programs are much different now. For example, the best player for each 2022-23 team has moved on since last season.

Guard Sincere Carry led the Golden Flashes in scoring the past two seasons (17.5 points per game in 2022-23 and 17.9 ppg in 2021-22), but the 2021-22 MAC Player of the Year graduated and recently signed to play professionally in Greece with G.S. Iraklis Thessaloniki.

Guard RayJ Dennis led Toledo with 19.5 points per game en route to becoming the MAC Player of the Year last season, though he transferred to Baylor this past offseason.

This season, senior forward Chris Payton Jr. led Kent State with 15.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game entering Tuesday. Payton finished with 15 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots against Toledo.

Junior guards Ra'Heim Moss (15.9 ppg) and Dante Maddox Jr. (15.1 ppg) led the Rockets in scoring heading into their matchup with the Flashes. Moss and Maddox scored 13 and 11 points, respectively, versus KSU.

Kent State shot 27-of-60 (45%) from the floor, including 11-of-26 (42.3%) on 3-pointers. Toledo finished 28-of-48 (58.3%) from the field, including 7-of-12 (58.3%) from 3-point range.

Tipoff occurred shortly after 7 p.m. at the M.A.C. Center. Below are updates from throughout the game.

Below is some information about the second half.

Kent State's Jared Sullinger puts Flashes in striking distance in second half vs. Toledo

KSU trailed by as many as 23 points in the second half, but Kent State guard Jared Sullinger made back-to-back 3-pointers, the second of which cut Toledo's lead to 73-63 with 5:43 left to play.

However, Toledo kept Kent State's flirtation with a comeback from becoming more serious.

Sullinger led Kent State with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting (58.3%).

Kent State's Brenden Moss leaves game with injury

With 13:35 left in the second half, Kent State sophomore guard Brenden Moss drove to the basket, lost the ball as he fell to the floor and grabbed his left knee.

Moss remained on the ground for a few moments and writhed in pain. He spoke to medical personnel and then left the court. After the game, KSU coach Rob Senderoff said he had no update on the severity of the injury.

The moment appeared to be deflating for Kent State. Toledo went ahead 63-40 with a 12-0 run, leading to a KSU timeout with 11:57 remaining. The 23-point lead was Toledo's largest of the game.

Tyler Cochran led Toledo in scoring vs. Kent State

Later in the second half, Toledo guard Tyler Cochran limped off the court with what looked like a left ankle or foot injury.

Cochran left the game with 5:10 left. He returned to the action with 3:43 left and continued to be a thorn in Kent State's side, finishing with 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field.

Kent State's hole increases to 18 points early in the second half vs. Toledo

Surrendering two layups is not the way Kent State had hoped to start the second half after trailing 43-29 at halftime. Yet, it happened, prompting Senderoff to call timeout with the Flashes trailing 47-29 and 18:31 left to play.

KSU rallied coming out of the timeout. Sullinger made a 3-pointer, point guard Giovanni Santiago came up with a steal and a fast-break layup, and Sullinger made a layup. Shortly after the sequence, Toledo led 50-36 during a media timeout with 15:51 remaining.

Below is some information about the first half.

Kent State falls behind by 15 points late in the first half and trails Toledo 43-29 at halftime

Turnovers hurt Kent State in a major way in the first half. For example, Moss stole the ball from Santiago and capitalized with a fast-break dunk, giving Toledo a 41-26 lead with 1:26 left in the first half.

KSU trailed 43-29 at halftime.

Kent State lost the first-half turnover battle 9-7. Toledo scored 12 points off turnovers and had eight fast-break points in the first half.

Cochran led Toledo with 11 points and four rebounds at halftime. Moss had 10 points.

Payton had 13 points to go along with four rebounds and three blocked shots to pace KSU in the first half.

Kent State shot 12 of 30 (40%) from the field compared with Toledo going 16 of 28 (57.1%) from the floor in the first half.

Toledo uses 13-0 run to distance itself from Kent State

A 3-pointer by Cochran with 6:19 left in the first half and a four-point play by Maddox (KSU guard Tyem Freeman fouled him on a 3-pointer) with 5:59 remaining fueled a 13-0 Toledo run, which gave the Rockets a 29-18 cushion.

Toledo takes its first lead vs. Kent State about midway through the first half

With 10:17 left in the first half, Coachran made a jump shot to give Toledo a 14-13 lead, its first advantage of the game. A layup by Moss extended Toledo's advantage to 16-13 with 9:48 remaining.

But Kent State and Toledo were tied 18-18 during a media timeout with 7:23 left. Freeman made a 3-pointer and a layup on assists from Santiago as KSU countered.

Jalen Sullinger gives Kent State spark off the bench

Sullinger lived up to his reputation for providing a spark off the bench.

Voted the MAC's Sixth Man of the Year last season, Sullinger entered the game with 16:21 left in the first half. He made a driving layup with 14:01 remaining and a jump shot with 13 minutes left. The Golden Flashes were ahead 13-10 when the second media timeout took place with 11:21 remaining before halftime.

With 15:26 left, Payton provided a highlight dunk in transition on an assist from Santiago.

Kent State's Chris Payton Jr. makes his presence known early vs. Toledo

Kent State led 5-4 during the first media timeout with 15:39 left in the first half.

Payton got off to a strong start by making a 3-pointer with 18:30 left in the first half and blocking a layup attempt by Maddox with 16:21 remaining.

More on Kent State men's basketball: Golden Flashes point guard Giovanni Santiago is the inspirational leader for KSU

Below is some pregame information.

What is the history between Kent State and Toledo in men's basketball?

Kent State is now 58-86 in its all-time series against Toledo. And KSU had its four-game winning streak in the series snapped.

KSU is 35-35 against Toledo at the M.A.C. Center.

How can I stream, watch or listen to Kent State vs. Toledo basketball?

The game was televised on CBS Sports Network and broadcast on ESPN Cleveland (850-AM).

Who does Kent State play next?

Kent State will visit Central Michigan on Saturday and Northern Illinois on Jan. 16 before returning to the M.A.C. Center to host rival Akron on Jan. 19.

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Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kent State men's basketball loses another MAC game vs. Toledo